That is as good a Test win as you’ll see.
To come back from 8-122 to not just win, but to do so by 251 runs, is remarkable. If Australia do go onto retain the Ashes, Edgbaston 2019 will long be remembered as one of their more important Test wins.
While Steve Smith was obviously the standout for Australia, he was ably supported by a number of his teammates – although a few need to lift for Lord’s.
Cameron Bancroft: 3/10
Made just 15 runs on his return to the Australian side, which only makes dropping Joe Burns (you know, the guy who averages 40 and has four Test centuries? No?) more perplexing. Gets a couple of bonus points for an outstanding short-leg catch on Day 5 to dismiss Joe Root.
David Warner: 1
Warner made even fewer runs than his opening partner, falling twice to Stuart Broad as the England veteran targetted him perfectly from around the wicket. Needs to find a way to counteract that tactic, and soon.
Usman Khawaja: 4
After failing in the first innings – not that he was alone on that front – Khawaja’s aggressive 40 in the second helped carve off much of England’s lead.
Steve Smith: 10
The performance of the Test. Smith’s first-innings century was a masterclass in pulling his team out of what seemed an un-rescuable situation. His second was just inevitable. Fitting that the ball flew his way to second slip for the catch to finish the Test – even if he did drop it. Not that it mattered. He made no mistake with the next one.
(Photo by Visionhaus)
Travis Head: 7
Head has cemented his place in this side with another couple of strong contributions. Needs to stop losing his wicket after strong starts, but there’s plenty to like about the value he puts on his wicket early on.
Matthew Wade: 8
Played all around a straight one in his comeback Test innings, but Wade was superb in the second. His first century in the format since 2013 put England out of the game, and showed just how worthwhile the radical idea of picking an in-form batsman is.
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Tim Paine (c): 5
A mixed bag for Paine. His Day 1 dismissal came via a wretched shot, and he missed a few tactical tricks as England got close to 400 – not getting Pat Cummins or James Pattinson to go at Stuart Broad with the short ball early, for example. But he chipped in with the bat on Day 4, captained the side just about flawlessly on Day 5, and showed behind the stumps how valuable picking a genuine gloveman can be.
James Pattinson: 7
A solid return to Test cricket for Pattinson. Was the most dangerous Australian bowler in the first innings and bludgeoned a few handy runs to ensure the side’s lead was a bloated one. Wasn’t really needed on Day 5.
Pat Cummins: 8
Cummins looked as un-threatening as I can remember with the new ball in England’s first Test. Thankfully for Australia, that didn’t last long. Got a hint of reverse swing as he claimed important breakthroughs in both innings. His seven scalps for the Test helped him to 100 wickets in just his 21st match – and all at an average under 22.
(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Peter Siddle: 8
It’s an injustice that Siddle only finished with two wickets for the match. He was the most consistent bowler throughout, hitting an immaculate length and scrambling the seam to find consistent purchase on a quite lifeless pitch. Without his 44 runs in the first innings, Australia probably don’t win this Test.
Nathan Lyon: 9
Two chasms in class were obvious at Edgbaston. The first was between Steve Smith and every other batsman. The second was between Nathan Lyon and Moeen Ali. Lyon might have been a little out-of-sorts early in the first innings – although he still finished with three wickets – but was unplayable in the second as he bowled Australia to victory. Is now just the fourth Australian to claim 350 Test wickets, and it won’t be long before he passes Dennis Lillee’s 355.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
The other factor is that Hazlewood and Starc are about 10cm taller than Siddle.....so they have to bowl much fuller to threaten the stumps. This is a scenario where you don't want 3 6'6" intimidating quicks - need someone to threaten those stumps of a better than half volley length.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Yep, as mentioned in the after match comments from Paine re cutting out the boundaries, Siddle did this superbly and on the fifth day he was asking questions with every delivery. I can't believe people want him out of the team.
Peter Warrington
Guest
brave droppings. great droppings. e.g. slater out despite us being 3-0 up. Langer in to open. Slater averaging almost 43 at the time.
Peter Warrington
Guest
no finders? no keepers?
matth
Roar Guru
How is a rating of 5 being immune to criticism?
Rob
Guest
I agree. How was Wade not under significant pressure? He’s probably batting for his Test career on top of the precarious position at the time. Head’s shot was just behind Roy’s which ripped from outside off hitting middle and Head’s was a ball half way done the wicket 2 feet wide of off that did nothing when well set on 50.
Rob
Guest
Maybe the other batsmen were rubbish? Rory Burns scored 133, Wade 110, Siddle, Woakes, Pattinson, Cummins all got significant runs well above their averages? Smithy unfortunately missed a sitter which isn’t a perfect 10/10 game. My wife is most certainly a 10/10.
Kdog
Guest
You can drop a catch and still achieve perfection. Smith litrally did something that had been done only five times by australians, and did it with the english crowd and collapse of his team, if that doesnt get you a 10 i pity your missus, because you aint ever gunna be satisfied.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I agree he was very good but I valued Cummins incisive intervention more.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
He was but he wasn’t as good as Cummins
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Makes me wonder why a technique that the English picked apart so quickly didn’t affect his ability to close out the trial game in Southampton against our best bowlers
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Harsh but fair. I watched pretty much the whole last day and his keeping wasn’t at his usual very high standard. The miss you mention and some byes where I think he’d have liked to have done better. That said, it always amazes me how great keepers take those thick outside edges off spinners and he did.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Ok, I am not a keeper, but... check this out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDg0vUwA0dY Look at Paine. at 40 secs in. Completely static. for a ball that is already down leg and is being played to leg. Then look at 1:20. It appears he is expecting a ball, outside off, that is being played with an offside-directed defensive shot, to go down leg. And thus misses a dolly. Would love an actual keeper to try and explain this from a technique point of view.
redbackfan
Roar Rookie
"from the couch"? mate, we are all on the couch
Mika
Roar Rookie
Bangers will get a 2nd chance. If he bombs again he'll be out for the 3rd
Peter Warrington
Guest
you are kidding me? the surface is to blame for Paine dropping balls 30m back off fast medium bowlers? Seriously. How Good is Tim Paine? Scomo told me so!
Mika
Roar Rookie
The new ball was an odd choice, but reflects how good the keeper thought he was bowling. Check how many overs Siddle bowled, and the run rate. He goes at about 2 -2.5 for long spells. Starc, on a dead track like that? No swing? Try 5 an over, and half the overs, heaping pressure back on the rest of the bowlers. Horses for courses. Starc will get a run on the right pitch.
Mika
Roar Rookie
Irrelevant. Smith dropped one edge. Payne missed another. He beat the bat a dozen times. Had Root plumb, barring a tiny edge on DRS review. Roy could not get a bat on him. He bowls better English lengths and jags more seam movement that the other Aussie quicks.
Peter Warrington
Guest
why was Paine diving to the left for a ball outside off? was he predicting a leg glance, or inside edge or something?
Mika
Roar Rookie
What game were you watching? Siddle was pick of the quicks on the last day. He bowled long, tight spells, moved the ball off the surface and beat the bat more than the others, was unplayable a lot of the time and very unlucky not to pick up 3 wickets.